--- description: Delta updates allow you to download only the modified files of a bundle, making live updates significantly smaller and faster. title: Delta Updates - Capawesome image: https://capawesome.io/docs/assets/images/social/cloud/live-updates/advanced/delta-updates.png --- [ Skip to content](#delta-updates) [ 🎉 Introducing **Capawesome Platform** — one platform for Live Updates, Native Builds, App Store Publishing, and Insider SDKs.](https://capawesome.io) * [ Formbricks ](/docs/plugins/formbricks/) * [ Geocoder ](/docs/plugins/geocoder/) * [ Google Sign-In ](/docs/plugins/google-sign-in/) * [ libSQL ](/docs/plugins/libsql/) * [ Live Update ](/docs/plugins/live-update/) * [ Managed Configurations ](/docs/plugins/managed-configurations/) * [ Media Session ](/docs/plugins/media-session/) * [ ML Kit ](/docs/plugins/mlkit/) * [ NFC ](/docs/plugins/nfc/) * [ OAuth ](/docs/plugins/oauth/) * [ Pedometer ](/docs/plugins/pedometer/) * [ Photo Editor ](/docs/plugins/photo-editor/) * [ PostHog ](/docs/plugins/posthog/) * [ Printer ](/docs/plugins/printer/) * [ Purchases ](/docs/plugins/purchases/) * [ RealtimeKit ](/docs/plugins/realtimekit/) * [ Screen Orientation ](/docs/plugins/screen-orientation/) * [ Screenshot ](/docs/plugins/screenshot/) * [ Secure Preferences ](/docs/plugins/secure-preferences/) * [ Speech Recognition ](/docs/plugins/speech-recognition/) * [ Speech Synthesis ](/docs/plugins/speech-synthesis/) * [ Share Target ](/docs/plugins/share-target/) * [ Square Mobile Payments ](/docs/plugins/square-mobile-payments/) * [ SQLite ](/docs/plugins/sqlite/) * [ Superwall ](/docs/plugins/superwall/) * [ Torch ](/docs/plugins/torch/) * [ Wifi ](/docs/plugins/wifi/) * [ Zip ](/docs/plugins/zip/) * [ Cloud ](/docs/cloud/) * [ Live Updates ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/) * Advanced * [ Git Integration ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/advanced/git-integration/) * [ Privacy ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/advanced/privacy/) * [ Rollbacks ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/advanced/rollbacks/) * [ Rollouts ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/advanced/rollouts/) * [ Self-Hosting ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/advanced/self-hosting/) * Integrations * [ Native Builds ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/) * [ Configuration ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/configuration/) * [ Environments ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/environments/) * Guides * [ Sample Projects ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/sample-projects/) * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/troubleshooting/) * [ Automations ](/docs/cloud/automations/) * [ Assist ](/docs/cloud/assist/) * Account * Organizations * [ Organization and User Management ](/docs/cloud/organizations/memberships/) * [ Single Sign-On (SSO) ](/docs/cloud/organizations/sso/) * [ Teams ](/docs/cloud/organizations/teams/) * [ Two-Factor Authentication ](/docs/cloud/organizations/two-factor-authentication/) * [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/integrations/) * [ License Keys ](/docs/cloud/license-keys/) * [ Webhooks ](/docs/cloud/webhooks/) * [ Pricing ](https://capawesome.io/pricing/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/faq/) * [ Support ](/docs/cloud/support/) * [ Contributing ](/docs/contributing/) * [ LLMs ](/docs/llms/) * [ Insiders ](/docs/insiders/) * [ License ](https://capawesome.io/legal/eula/) * [ Support ](/docs/insiders/support/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/insiders/faq/) * [ Blog ](/blog/) * Categories # Delta Updates[¶](#delta-updates "Permanent link") Live updates can be significantly smaller and faster if only modified files are downloaded. For this, each bundle requires a manifest file. This is a simple JSON file containing information such as hashes about the files in a bundle. When performing a live update, the manifest of the new bundle is compared with the manifest of the current bundle, and only the changed files are downloaded. Try the Zip Artifact Type First We recommend starting with the `zip` artifact type, which is faster and more efficient for most apps.**Delta updates are only beneficial if your app contains large files that rarely change.**Most modern frameworks generate unique file hashes on each build, causing all files to be marked as changed. This makes delta updates ineffective and can result in longer download times and potentially hundreds of individual file requests instead of a single zip download. If you're unsure which option is right for your app, start with `zip` and only switch to `manifest` if you have a clear need for delta updates. For more tips on reducing your bundle size, check out our guide on [how to reduce the bundle size of Capacitor live updates](/blog/how-to-reduce-the-bundle-size-of-capacitor-live-updates/). ## Generate the manifest file[¶](#generate-the-manifest-file "Permanent link") To generate a manifest file, run the [apps:liveupdates:generatemanifest](/docs/cloud/cli/#appsliveupdatesgeneratemanifest) command using the Capawesome CLI: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-0-1)npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:generatemanifest --path www ` The `path` option is mandatory and specifies the path to the folder that contains the compiled web assets of your web app (e.g. `www` or `dist`). Make sure that the manifest file is regenerated after each build of your web app but before copying the files to the native projects: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-1)npm run build [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-2)npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:generatemanifest --path www [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-3)npx cap copy ` The easiest way to achieve this is to include the command directly in your build script: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-1){ [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-2) "scripts": { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-3) "build": "ng build && npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:generatemanifest --path www" [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-4) } [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-5)} ` Once the command has been executed, a `capawesome-live-update-manifest.json` file is created in the specified folder. Manifest File Required Delta updates can only be performed if two manifest files are available for comparison. If one manifest file is missing, then all files of the bundle must be downloaded, which makes the update process significantly slower. Therefore, make sure that the manifest file is always included in native updates. ## Create a bundle[¶](#create-a-bundle "Permanent link") To create a new bundle that supports delta updates, use the following command of the [Capawesome CLI](/docs/cloud/cli/): `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-1)npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:upload --artifact-type manifest ` It is important that the `--artifact-type` option is set to `manifest` so that the files of the bundle are uploaded individually and not as a zip archive. CLI Only Delta updates cannot yet be created via the Capawesome Cloud Console. They must be created using the Capawesome CLI as described above. March 12, 2026 Back to top